ESP8266 Community Forum

Hi,

I'm trying to do my first steps with Arduino IDE and the ESP. I'm programmer but not very good in hardware.

My problem is, that the compiled and uploaded code does nothing. I tried many samples and configurations, but every time there is nothing in the serial monitor.

To check if there is a problem with the serial monitor, I followed this tutorial. The same problem as before. The LED does not blink.

I'm using Arduino IDE 1.6.1 on Ubuntu Linux. I tried different ESP modules and cables. I'm trying it since a few days and checked everything more than twice.

Has anyone an idea? It is very frustrating to fail on such a simple thing.

Thank you very much!

My first suggestion is to get the latest 1.6.5 IDE as its being changed fairly quickly now . You no longer load the esptool I don't think thats your problem though .
I take it when you open a serial terminal it does open? You have it set at 112800 and your sketch sets " Serial.begin(112800); "or whatever .
In your circuit do you have RXtoTX and TX to RX and how are you powering your esp ,by FTDI cable or something else ? TX/RX lines must go back to USB plug.

On picture below VCC connection to CH_PD is missing - add also this wire.

This on the tutorial you used . do you have it connected Did the pretty blue light flash a lot when you uploaded . If you put the blink example on does the LED blink?
I d/l another terminal prog called Putty , you may have it . Set that up the same way with NL and ret , your baud rate and see if that works . I think putty is in your distro much the same as mine Puppy Precise.

hi tytower,

thank you very much for helping me. I will answer your questions below.

My first suggestion is to get the latest 1.6.5 IDE

I will try the newer version later this day, to be sure

I take it when you open a serial terminal it does open?

The serial monitor opens but stays empty.

You have it set at 112800 and your sketch sets " Serial.begin(112800); "or whatever .

Yes, 115200 in my case

you have RXtoTX and TX to RX

yes

how are you powering your esp ,by FTDI cable or something else ?

First I tried to power the esp by FTDI, same problem. Now I am using 2 AA-Cells. Still the same problem.

Did the pretty blue light flash a lot when you uploaded

yes

If you put the blink example on does the LED blink?

no

... Putty... Set that up the same way with NL and ret , your baud rate and see if that works

I tried minicom to take a look at the serial port. minicom doesn't show anything in this case.

Do you have another idea?

If you put the blink example on does the LED blink?


no

That suggests the sketch is not uploading or when done uploading the chip is continually resetting.


If the chip is working properly it puts out a reset message when it boots on 74880 baud . You will see it if you set the rate and force the chip to reboot with the serial terminal still connected . I would disconnect the power off and on once with everything else plugged in . That might do it or touch a grounded wire to reset for an instant.

Then the chip switches to 115200 and gives serial output there.

A blank screen is a puzzle for me .No weird characters or anything seems to suggest the connection between the computer serial window and the chip is not making it . Does your FTDI cable work with anything else ? An arduino perhaps?
When you are on batteries is your ftdi cable still plugged in ? You wont get a signal if it isn't and its ground must be mutual with the battery ground and chip ground .